The Precast/ Prestressed Concrete Institute Creates Employment Advantage
Organizational Growth | Salary Alignment | Career Development
Overview
Founded in 1954, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) is the technical institute and trade association for the precast and prestressed concrete structures industry. PCI develops and maintains the Body of Knowledge for the design, fabrication, and erection of precast concrete structures and systems. The organization has a 32-member team headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Despite PCI’s strong focus on culture building—emphasizing values, collaboration, and communication—its leadership recognized the need to address key processes tied to hiring and performance reviews. These improvements were necessary to complement the organization’s cultural goals and create a robust, unified employment process.
The challenge
Beth Taylor, PCI’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, identified inconsistencies in the hiring and performance review processes that were undermining the organization’s efforts to maintain a strong, positive workplace culture.
The primary challenges included:
- Inconsistent salary structures: Ensuring that salary ranges were equitable and aligned with job descriptions, experience, and education.
- Performance review improvements: Creating a clear and consistent framework for employee development and career progression.
- Talent acquisition issues: Addressing difficulties in finding and retaining skilled employees, a problem exacerbated by the pandemic.
These challenges required a thorough review of job descriptions, an analysis of salary data, and the development of a plan to ensure fairness, clarity, and future growth opportunities for all employees.
The Solution
PCI engaged .orgSource to implement an association salary benchmarking process tailored to their needs. Senior consultant Kevin Martlage led the initiative, leveraging their expertise in association research and strategic planning.
To ensure the recommendations reflected current trends, .orgSource conducted an extensive analysis of industry salary studies and databases, including sources like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and association-specific reports. This data was further refined by examining job market conditions in PCI’s Chicago location.
The analysis resulted in:
- Clear, standardized job descriptions across departments.
- Equitable salary ranges informed by market data and position requirements.
- A proposed career arc framework to guide individual professional development and identify potential leaders for senior roles.
The career arc provides employees with a roadmap for growth,” Martlage said. “While it’s not a guarantee, it reinforces a culture of continuous improvement and gives staff a vision for their future at PCI.”
The Results
PCI now benefits from a consistent and transparent employment process. Standardized job descriptions and salary ranges ensure fairness and support long-term workforce planning. Employees are motivated by the career arc framework, which fosters engagement and inspires professional growth.
“This was an extremely rewarding project,” Martlage remarked. “Beth Taylor’s leadership and clear goals made it possible to deliver a solution that aligns with PCI’s commitment to a strong and positive organizational culture.”
Key Takeaways
- Implementing an association salary benchmarking process ensures equitable compensation, fosters employee engagement, and supports organizational growth.
- Standardized job descriptions and career arcs align with long-term culture-building initiatives.
- Data-driven recommendations strengthen hiring practices and performance reviews, ensuring consistency across the organization.
Are You Ready to Elevate Your Association to New Heights with a Future-Ready Partner?
Contact .orgSource today to learn how they can help you unlock growth, build resilience, and achieve excellence for your organization.
